Automatic piano-player.



H. P. BALLOU.

AUTOMATIC PIANO PLAYER. APPLICATION man MAY 9. 1914.

1,136,924. Patented Apr. 27, 1915. 3 SHEETSSHEET l- ,ga: 3 i 9' 16' In ventor: I EZBaZhm THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. FHOro-LITMO-v WASHINGTON. D. C,

H. P. BALLOU.

AUTOMATIC PIANO PLAYER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Vi g V THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOT0-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, o. C

H. P. BALLOU. AUTOMATIC PIANO PLAYER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1914.

1,136,924. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

j y a/ 4% x 86 y 84 1'\\\\\\\\ g k fi i f a'izessesr Inventor:

- JYFBaZlou THE NORRIS PETERS C04. PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON. D. C.

" has-provision withinit f v tending through parallel" vertically" elon i gated slots in the two brackets 3 so as to chest 16. a The t 19 receive the the brackets 3 l and when the these nuts 21. chest becomes a part of the frame, 10 substantiallyaid in maintaining the Ii in pro 1 chestld es thepnfe'umatics and, certain Y othen cooperatin more I, have set'forth11s' upper forward piano in front may be reinovablys desirableinanner, screws; 23 .Which generally' mounted in "the he piano actiOnQ' and it for instance by the thumb extend through perforaa; rejecting toward each pectweend brackets 3, these instance being adapted ls 2 ithin :the piano, a s s v ett e W player-action in places V Gihas inita acuum chamber 26 V to rest upO lJtheQral the rails ch "s ;connected asiby vthe "duct :27 with able form of exhaust device; (not i 1 "The upper side of this legihaust or chamber 26 is preferablytranspars as '28 in :one orrnoresections ant- Swerin'g satisfactorily in this connection, the chest 16 having a; ledge 29'onwhichthe glass" coverin ihypjlace by the clamping- 1neInbers3O; be tween which and'the gl s 28ithepacking3l V is disposedfl Inthe ro ox 5 z is mounted :the tracker 32 which may be of any of the l nsualformsnow in use andf' from.which to;

' the chest 16; the ducts 33- lead. The rollbox or remoyably supQ n 34 which carries I. how); j "Vacuum porting the rolltoribobbi the sheet 35 which is fed onto the receiving 11 reuse, theusual Inoter 37v'show n diagram imatically or symbolically being provided to; operate the roll Ir'nechani'sm after the cuss, ternary fashion. Thejmot'or 37' it will be noted, is sustained by the cross bar 4:; In the-chest'lGJaire the approximately L-sha oed passages 38, ;t he vertical portionsof which receiye-the nipples 39 in itheirnpper ends, 7 the'perforationsfof the nip 1 passagesf38 into ornmunication with the n chamber; 6{{andiconsti tuting con-j eee s n a T e ife dlvr pro- 1] provide for the adjusting or leveling of the breaded portions of the'bolts nuts 21 between which and the washers 22' are jdi'sposed t chest 16 correctly located; are? set, .so1 that in "effect the acting to; brackets per relation with 1 each other. 1 The a parts as will hereinafter-' particularly appear. The. frame Which de t the case 2 of the ecured in position in anvf 3 e e' d y.

g1 28 rests" and said cover being held; i

Extending bet\v p ot d 11 lower boards of .espuaing the a.

' 'ThemeansIfor her 26 comprise trol "openings at the upper sagesi. The lower port-i0 extend; through the. cham forward; side to receive t ae diaphraglns ll an n will be noted are loca 4e. Accesscan by lifting of? v the cover sages as will hereinaf atively' connected with pneiunatics/ It haust appa'r 7 there is suction or a i 26 j which acts on the diaphrag ,oi'gthe: bleed-openings in the nipples 39, pas; isages 38 and chambers 4059 as to drawsaid diaphragms down valves or. lo ldingth seats at'the lower open and at the Valveseteltocl upper open end 1 cutting off the yacuumc'hamb several pneurnatics 47 4 As n the "pne .in; two horizontal row being car of the lowerv y .chest'lfi; while thos V C re connected to the stri 4 8, The rnountmgcf these Pneumatics will I- be hereinafter'more" ariticularlydescribed.

As shown-the str' fitsends the spacing;

i tQ- u ,3 the upper row of tween the. strip A3 and the y chest 16,,while the lower pneumaties ":depend from said strip v the movable boards f;

Eh fi the pneumatics links 51 w ch ale adjustab y i tained by making form and-connecting" buckles 52 strhent can b their'jsections by turn The'yupperends of the links are. c thememb "s 53 fastened to the on Withgthe vacuu prefe ab V atics into communlcat ends ofsaidpas= A gj 11s of the ste'ms42l ber L6 open attits he hand ora suitable implement "to provide for readyaccess;

d yalvesel3, which ted in the chamber; 3 be had to the upper valves =1 plate'Q-S. The .pas terappear are oper; th op a i a be assumedthat the-ex s s inaction; lnthiseyent vacuum in the chamber d rt-hereby opening thevf em away. from, their ends of the passages V same time causing the upper i. ainst their seats at' thef C? 47: are "arran d '53 8 has suitably-fastened;

instance being be:- i

' inturned u 'ss it t e, passe Theilaweri e d d the, v uc i ttub 56 in V P n ss1 in hei hei trle:and s r pl 8 spec-WW5 rroun dibyethergaskas r be near;

vt a 8 17 ;a1

t -W en.. 1es d a y. e

6l fitted in theopeningsl-fiO." It

' tubes can-be easily 'dismounted' by .ai-pullon V i L their seats at. J

The tnbesare of ,difierent-l to the different locations thechest 16'whil'e. the other: is inthe strip 8.' f

, r o s' t eg st r w ports 63in thenpperystationary{boards of i the pneumaties 47;

; all the yaliiesld These ports 621-3 3 tw llgbeassum d h t p d 1 1 n r nstthei;l tt easiest the passages 4L5, v Asa consequence iit follo ws that the alvest are'closedorg are -against he r pper ends of said pas communication With 1 ation; It has; beenassn ned rat gthisztime 7 hole into communicat on I phere, so that atmospheric airpassing. alongthe duct 83 mentioned illEenter the correspending passage n 38 p ass fromithence V tionin the 4 therewith: the cooperating yalveA to close I that the holes or openings in, the tracker 32 are closed by ,the imperforateportion of the 3 music sheet 35. v \Vhena perforationin the music sheet reglsters withja tracker hole; this puts the :duct 33 connected with said tracker w th t m si' into tlie corresp ondingfauxiliary. chainbeg-AQ and break the Vacuum therein so that thesne.

i the lower endof theappropriate passage A5 s andz'open I he dipper-e d :of said passage, .by

' i munication with a;pneumatic A 7 toglcollapse Virtue of which the ;;,ma1 n exhaust ;chamber 26 by way-"of a ductv 56 i is put into come said pneumat c and] consequently raise the 51 1 connected with the mgvable' 0 Tod board thereof and the i elevation of the r correspondingfinger and operation of he I3 -f he pneumatics 4:7

' As already Observed;

are removably 1 hooks fi which are adapted "to engage in i's eats 65 in the rear ceive the slidable latches67 adapted to enter" chest '16 and stripe front areprovided with lugs 66 which reseats 68 in the front "ofthe 48 respectively. In Figs.

" 6 *and 7 a pneudrawn from: its seat or ling which saidpne'umatic spushed; rear: 'Wardly; ;.t0 disengagethe hook (S kfromthe seat. The heads of the latches fi'lland I, 1 adjacentsurfaces of thelugs 6,6 have'regi's I: Lterir g otches 69 and 70 when' the Y latches .areinoperatiye position, V i j ,7 "facilitatethefwith 5 I '8,lthe num'eral 7. I

' n hsx wi g the openings V IFrorn gthe Referring now to Fig.

e ape a sh wnl F g 4 ha L t W YB Z c i ique' tie a $1 1 v opening into the vacuum chambersl, While deyi'ce' (not -shgwnyin A he Q amb LZGGXhauSt:

h asuitable exhanst device; 3 f om; th latter .t mainta n thi 'lconnectedbymeans ofcxsnitable ducts: (not I I ithzthe tracker board (not shown);' I

chamberflfl Will;;lift the proper Valve 44 and through the ste1n1 l2 connected j,

communication and-the chamber 81! ninnication] with the I V ,vwippen" 55 'againstsaid finger andthe sound-Y ing of asnote corresponding with the per- 7: ,foration in the note o mnsie 'ounte di Their upperf boards at thelrear areshOwnprovidedj With l 7 ofthechest -16 and strip 7 4L8 respectively. Said'rupper boards'at their, 7 p p I compressible material ns ially f consists; of

To dismount tomary to'ope n ayaciiumior-valvechestan l v adapted to receive S i able. implement to w lof"Saidlatches;

Fitting into this chest are ducts 76 and 77 arranged in sets,' c thfe v I ducts being connectedwith the upper and th pl l atic i the slidingflatch '67i i h wi h opening ee fonowwer ends; of said ."80 lower .TOWS of neumatics Stand h npper ends-0i? theseducts 76 and'are con- 'nected with the jerticalgjpassages 8O in thefj; it chesti75, the .lower ends: of said passages 7 .7 r a kthe upper ends' thereot areyadapted to come mun cateawlth theatmosphereby Way of one the jvacunrn onnect -with (Not shown) a or more ports as iii/the valve seat 91." i' r Y chamber 81 is V 7 h 90 Y Extendingthrough the pa'ssageshi SO are s erns 82l-connec ed atg their lower en'dwyith 'diaphragms 'sagegveringgthe chambers7'84p; I

connected with passages :85 adapted'fto be shown) Thebleed 0penin gs'86 extend from the main vacuum chambers Y thatwlienfthemu'sic sheet ceyers the tracker openlngs r the suction in the. main chamber 81' by, ay of, the bleedzopenings 86,: pas- 81 to the passages r85,.s0" r. I

sages 18 5 andtchambers SgtiWill drax vftlie dia'phragnis t8 3y-dow nward. ;Eacli*stem 82 v V .carri S Z LUPper; Valve 87gand"a lower alve 8 8, the; npperf valves controlling'commnni-c 1 etween-rthepassagesfioyand:ithe at; e

cation; 10

mosph'ere be ee 88 are closed at which time "theyfffit closely against seats in said pa'ssages 80.} qWhen p and the lower yal es controlling 1 paSsages'SQ;

vacuum in, a chamber, 8 LJi'sjbroken "by come '3 1 w s Pen ng Whatis-knOWIiIaS an atmospheric yalve becomes in time or from erly seatin'g. 'lnfsuch latter'event it 1's cu h the Iatmosphere; throiigh thef tracker ,;,melchanism,-gzthe diaphrag1n,'83 over saidchamberf84 is televatediby sncftioni ilcornected ei m er- 1 into, 1 r communicationwith one ofthepnenmatics I ,78 or 79 by Way of 1 Hot-Which one ofthose numbered 87 at'ype I: h b c. is generally inadeofzlcompressible material; I

at leastfthe activeportionlth'ereot is; This v p r 4125. 'leatherf whichior some eqniyalents substance' l f; 1

I usepacked densely, therebypreventing sucha 'alve' from prop j l 1 f are threaded into adjust the valvefor put a new" one in its 7 f stead.

"-bar,

' them "together To compensate for wear of this kind I in a valve When ny one of these valves becomes packed or wornfrom use I can compensate for the defect by adjusting theseat 9l therefor' inward, said'seat for such-purposegad-f 1n the outer surface of the justablyl fitting vacuum chest '75. Asshown'theseats 91 a valve STiS 'clos'ed it covers these ports;

7 when the valve is opened the ports are un} covered; The seats 91in addition to acting at 92 to receive the'free ends of 82, all as shown in said Fig; T/Vhat I claim is:

said stems 1. The combination of twoend brackets,a'

vacuum chest supported by and between the end brackets, a bar also supported by and between the end brackets, ;a roll box support ed by the bar,

.pneumatics cooperative with' the vacuum chestqand supported thereby, and operative connections matics and fingers. V

i 2. The combination of twoend-brackets, a vacuum chest between the brackets, tying and adjustably connected thereto for adjustment longitudinally of nal thereof, 'a roll I said'bracketspa bar betweensaid' brackets tying them together and adjustably coIlnected with them for box supported by the bar, fingers mounted upon the bar, fandpneumaticssustainedby the vacuum chest "and operatively connected with said fingers.

3. The combination of two end brackets, a vacuum chest between the brackets connecting and tying themtogether, a bar between the brackets connectingfand tying them together, fingers mounted on the j bar, and Pneumatics supported by the and opera'tively connected with said fingers.

' 4. The combination disposed between the rendbrackets,,provided with metal tips equipped withbolts,'the end brackets having vertically elongated slots to receive the bolts and thereby provide for on the-bolts for engaging the 'holdjthebar in adj stedposition, a vacuum chest provided at its; ends with face plates provide an adjustableseatas'; 91*for each of the atmospheric valves 87;

the top of the vacuum 7 chest and each has two ports 90. hen end brackets,

vacuum chest 7 togetherfand -a-'roll' box supported; bythe V brackets and I bofx supported by the bar fingers connected with said between. i said pneuadjustment ,longitudi vacuumichest e between sa d of end-brackets, a bar.

brackets to equipped with; bolts," the end brackets having vertically elongatedizslots, to receive saidbolts to thereby provide I for the vertical adjustm'ent of said vacuum chest, and nuts on V for engaging the a 1 end brackets to hold the vacuum chest inan the last mentioned bolts,

adjustedpo'sition. a o a r 5. The combinationof two end brackets,-a

vacuum chestfsupported by and between the a bar alsojsupported by and :1

between the end-braeketsf the bar and jointly tying} the end brackets bar between-saidbar and the vacuum chest.

V 6, Thecombinationoftwoendbrackets, a

vacuum chest supported b y and between the end brackets,yand connected with said end a bar also supported by andbetweensaid connected with said brackets brackets "for adjustment depthwise' thereof, 75f

for adjustment depthwise-thereof, and a r011 and the vacuum chest. h

7. The combination of two end; brackets, a

between the bar vacuum chest supported by and between the I end brackets, a bar also supported by and between the end brackets, below the vacuum chest thevacuum chest and thebarjointly tying together the end brackets, a roll boX supported by the bar,fin'ger"s mounted on said bar," pneumatics cooperativewi'th the vacuum chest, and operative connections between the pneumatics and the fingers.

' v 8 The combination joftwo end brackets, a

vacuum chest supported by and between the end brackets,

a bar also supported by and betweenthe endf'brackets, the vacuum chest and'the bar j ointlytying together the brackets and the bar being located below the vacuum chest, a roll box supported by the in bar, between the barand the vacuum chest,

fingers mounted upon said bar, pneumatics cooperative with the vacuum chest and supported. thereby, and operative connections pneumatics and fingers. I

- In testimony whereof, Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

HO DEN P. BALL oIi'.

Witnesses: r g v f HEATH SUTHERLAND,

V I L. L. 'M KEL, V

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of latents r 1 Washingtomhfi. I, Y p r. I 

